Folding crate.



G. M. BROWN.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1911.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

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G. M. BROWN.

FOLDING GRATB.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1911.

1,036,555. Patented Aug.`27, 1912.

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G. M. BROWN.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1911.

1 O36 555, Patented Aug. 27, 1912. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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'Tlf STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

GEORGE M. BROWN, 0E SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR or EoRTY-NINE oNE-HUNDREDTRS To CHARLES ivr. STOOKWELL, or sAN BERNARDINO, CALI- FORNIA.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27,31912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Bernardino, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding crates, and has for its leading object the provision of an improved form of crate of this character which may be readily collapsed when not in use to facilitate the packing away of the crate in small space or the reshipment of the crate to its original owners when emptied and which will thus prolong the life of the crate and enable the same to be used a number of times instead of being broken up and destroyed as is the case with ordinary noncollapsible crates.

The further obj ect of my invention is the provision of improved and novel flexible connecting or hinged members for securing the various parts to the base in such manner as to permit of considerable relative movement of the base and parts when the same are being folded together.

Another object of my invention is the provision of improved means for securing the various parts in collapsed position and also in securing said parts in extended or operative position.

Other objects and advantages of my improved collapsible crate will be readily apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and it will be understood that I may make any modifications in `the specific structure shown and described within the scope of my claim without departing from or exceeding the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my crate in assembled position. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same in closed position. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of my crate in partially opened position. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 represents a top plan view of the complete assembled crate with the cover swung open to permit of a view of the interior of the crate.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates the bottom of the crate having rising therefrom the .side portions 2 connected at their upper portions by the end straps 8 and at their lower portions by the end boards 4 which rest on the bottom 1. Extending across the bottom near each end are the metal brace straps 5 which are bent around the edges of the bottom and extend beneath. the side portions 2 and project upward in the interior of the crate. The upper portion of the said straps 5 are secured to the inner faces of the folding or collapsible side sections of the crate, the straps 5 being reversely bent over and secured to the upper edges of the side sections. Similar straps 7 are secured to the bottom near its ends and extend reversely therearound and are secured to the folding end sections S of my crate, said end sections 8 being reinforced near their top by the battens 9. By reference to the drawings, it will be observed that the sides 6 have their lower edges spaced above the bottom of the crate and have inclined recesses 10 formed in said edges in which the straps 5 fit.

The end sections 8 are formed with lat* erally projecting shoulder portions 11 which fit beneath the sides 6 when the crate is assembled and serve to hold the sides 6 upward in correct position. To lock the end sections in raised position between the sides and thus to hold the sides apart, I form centrally of the ends in their upper edge the recesses 12 faced by the resilient strips 13 having their ends slidably engaged beneath the bends of the straps 7 and having inwardly extending bossed portions 14. Extending around the ends of the sides 6 are the bracing straps 15 having near the upper edges of the sides 6 the offsets 16 in which are engaged and pivotally secured the loops 17 adapted to span the upwardly projecting end portions 18 of the ends 8 and to be swung down past the bosses 14 which serve to resiliently hold the loops in position to brace and secure the ends, as is clearly illustrated.

To divide the crate, as when it is used to A down thereupon.

contain eggs and 5to further lbrace the sides 6, I provide the partition 19 having the up. Wardly projecting portions 2O providing .the recess 21 Yfaced by the plate 22 similar `to the. plates 14 and adapted yto engage the loops 23 supported by the intermediate bracing straps 24 of the sides.

Secured to the `sides 6 are the .straps 255i providing the loops 26 v'for engaging the hinge links 27 which are alsoengaged inthe loops 28 of the straps 29 carried by the topy 30.. 1Said top has secured thereto `an additional strap 31 having a l'oop 32 receiving the .link 33 'bearing the depending plate '34. A bracket plate 35 'secured to one of the sides 61serves fto ro'tatably support 4the ends of the staple member 36 :adapted Ito be engaged 'in the slot 37 of the Ipla'te 34 when thecrateis open or 5to be swung against the side 6 out Vof the way when Vit is desired to collapse 4the crate.

To "collapse the crate it is merely necessary to swing 'the links 17 and 24 upward out of engagement with the partition and ends and to ,'then place fthe partiti-'on in the bottom of the crate and swing Ethe ends l lthen swing the side bearing 'the lclasp member 36 doumward upon top `of the ends 8 and lastly swing the other side member Ito lie upon 'top of the first. To secure the parts in folded posi" tion, I secure toene-'of the side sections 2 the brace plate 38 :adj acent the recessor socket 39 for receiving .the hooked end 40 of 'the brace 41. Said 'side 2 also lhas 'formed therein the recesses 4.2 for receiving the l'oop fends 28. The brace inembers '29 are formed with hook portions 43 which 'fit downward into the recesses 44 olf'the second side member 2y while to 'engage the hooks 43 fand lock the saine and thus the cover sections 30 in closed position, l secure to the side 2 the resilient plates 45 having hooks 46 for interlocking engagement with 'the liooks 43 as is most clearly illustrated in `3.

From the foregoing `description'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction of my improved colf lapsible or folding crate .should be nreadily understood, and it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and durable crate embodying but few parts which may be .readily placed in condition lfor use or may be easily folded into collapsed position Aand which will 'have few parts all adapted Vto be contained within the solid or unfolding base portion of the crate 'and which will prove highly desirable in every particular.

II claim:

A collapsible crate including ra lbottonil having fixed side and lend portions, side sections having'theilr ends resting upon the end portions, flexible rstraps secured to the bottom at their lower ends and to the side sections vat their upper ends, end sections arranged interiorily olf 'the end portions, 'flexible strapssecured gtothe 'bottom and at right angles `to the iirst named straps and having their Iupper ends secured to the end sections, recesses lformed in the free ends lof -the end sections, resilient bosses Imounted in the recesses, loops Acarried by the side sections and adapted to engage the bosses to hold the lend and side sections in their unfolded position,

`a socket carried by one of the side sections.l

resilient hook plates carried 'by the other side section, a cover i'hingedtoone of the side sections, a pair of Ebooks carried 'by one edge of 'the cover, la single hook carried by the other edge, whereby when the side and end sections are folded the Vsingle hook engages said socket and the pair of hooks engage the hook plates to hold the vcrate against a-ccidental unfolding.

In testimony whereof I `aiiix iny signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M.. BRGWN. llitnesses Ln ROY S. Mnssinni, RUnn McCUNn 'Copies o'f this `patent 'may "be vt'cained 'for ve cents each, by 'addressing .the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. Cl 

